IcebreakersIcebreakers

What are icebreakers?What are icebreakers?

Icebreakers are tools and/or short exercise that enables interaction, stimulate creative thinking, challenge basic assumptions, illustrate new concepts, and introduce specific material.

Icebreakers are used in Icebreakers are used in group processes or projects group processes or projects

to:to:• Help a group get acquainted and feel

more comfortable with each other.• Creates a non-threatening environment

and trust within a group.• Provide a preview of topic for discussion.• Teach a skill.• Encourages people to have fun and

participate.

Icebreakers are also used Icebreakers are also used to:to:• Evoke a response• Create awareness• Move a team forward in a project

How are icebreakers How are icebreakers used?used?

• Used anytime during the meeting• Appropriate to the group,

application, or content• Structured

Icebreakers work best Icebreakers work best when participants are when participants are given:given:

• rationale for the activity. • objectives of the activity. • structure of the activity. • opportunity to ask questions. • permission to participate at their

own level of comfort.

Examples of Examples of Icebreakers:Icebreakers:

• Change:Warhead

Exercise

Examples of Examples of Icebreakers:Icebreakers:

• Awareness:Recall Exercise

“DE-X-ES”

Examples of Examples of Icebreakers:Icebreakers:

• Introduce topic for discussion:

Cartoon Qualities

Icebreaker Resources:Icebreaker Resources:

• http://www.odportal.com/training/icebreakers.htm

• http://www.humanpingpongball.com/index.html

• http://www.astd.org• Local Library